There may or may not be any validity in this BUT? Yesterday I purchased a set of Maxxis MA-1 185/80 R13 tires from an online vendor. I called the vendor to verify stock levels before placing my order. The lady at the other end of the phone was very familiar with these particular tires and told me that they sold a lot of them to classic car owners and restorers. She went on to tell me that Maxxis ceased production of these a couple months ago. IF this is true availability could be a problem in even the very near future? Just figured I would share this info with the community. If you need some it might be a good time to buy them.

A few years back when I was looking for tires for my car, I ended up calling Maxxis tires. The tires were out of production at that time also. Basically the long and short of it was, that demand for a white walled 13" tire does not meet continuous production requirements. So, they shut down the line and produce other lesser demand tires and then when deemed appropriate start production of the tires we need again. I don't know, not having spoken with anyone there recently, but I do not think that this is a permanent end of production, just a temporary pause.

Struggling with production and inventory in a limited demand tire size makes sense. All tires have a limited shelf life. If demand is low, the manufacturer may be attempting to build demand so that it matches production minimums so they don't end up scrapping aging, unsold inventory.

This on and off supply has been the norm for a few years. The 185/80X13 is used by other old cars. At one time a few companies made automotive 185/80X13 tires (not trailer tires), but to sell tires in the U.S.A. you have to have DOT rating, and then there was a "voluntary" limit on how old tires could be before they could not be sold. Basically almost all the tire companies decided to drop low volume tires, except the specialty makers which make expensive tires on demand. Maxxis was the FIRST to jump back in and with a limited demand nobody else decided to come back (a lot of tires are made outside the U.S.A.). Maxxis only runs off a batch when demand justifies it, otherwise they risk a loss on unsold tires as they age. The "batch" has to be big enough to justify shipping costs. So in the past a batch would come in and retailers could get tires, then they would sell out and a few weeks would pass before Maxxis shipped the next batch. So a lot of folks would call a tire dealer and were told "We can't get them anymore".

So I would contact Maxxis and hopefully they are still going to make the 185/80X13 tire and ship in a new batch. Also call around to see if anyone still has a few in stock. The only other source would be a specialty tire makes like Cooker.

The Maxxis tires are currently in pretty good supply best I can tell they are listed at numerous outlets. I spoke to Maxxis in Suwanee, GA the other day and inquired about availability as we were considering ordering directly from them. There is certainly current availability. We ordered the tires from Best Wheels Online through Newegg.com for only $88 each and free shipping (about $25 cheaper).

I also realize that the manufacturer has made intermittent batches. The only question is that if they are not in the current production schedule will they make another batch later. That depends on sales I am sure and could result in another "dry" period. In any case we and a few other classic car owners (some Novas etc.) are what drive this market, so, buy more of their tires:)

The 175/70R 13 tire size is 8.5% smaller in diameter. To me they look small on anything other than a stock restored 500 model. Using them will make your speedo read 8.5% high and your engine RPM at any given speed will be 8.5% higher. The higher engine RPM at highway speeds certainly could be an issue especially with 3.55 gearing or higher. The 155/80R 13 tire mentioned above is almost as short (-7.7%) as the 175/70 and pretty narrow as well.

Last edited by terribleted on Sat Mar 18, 2017 6:33 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Ted, don't you mean the speedometer will read higher with the wheels & drive train turning faster????? When I pass a police radar "done at different speeds" my speedometer always reads 5 mph over the radar with the 175/70 X 13 tires. Last time I checked was a 35 mph zone & my speedometer read 40.

Ted, don't you mean the speedometer will read higher with the wheels & drive train turning faster????? When I pass a police radar "done at different speeds" my speedometer always reads 5 mph over the radar with the 175/70 X 13 tires. Last time I checked was a 35 mph zone & my speedometer read 40.

I don't think the 175 70 13 tires looks too small but I don't like the blackwalls at all but needed cheap tires$$$$. I hope I can get my congestive heart failure fixed, been laid up since December & I want to get a set of Maxxis WW's before I die. All my extra money goes to the doctor's & hospital's. If I die in my sleep, oh well but if something happens & I know i'm dying it's really going to piss me off. Here's a few photo's of my daily driver. I painted the trunk hood & left side with rattle cans of Tuxedo black from NAPA. It goes fast enough so nobody gets a good look at it. I ONLY HAVE TO PLEASE MYSELF.

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Let's look at street tires first. I use and recommend only radial tires, so that's what this information covers. The size radial closest to a stock 6.50-13 bias ply is 185/80R13, but unless you have a factory stock show car, you may wish to use a different size.

64powerglide wrote:I don't think the 175 70 13 tires looks too small but I don't like the blackwalls at all but needed cheap tires$$$$. I hope I can get my congestive heart failure fixed, been laid up since December & I want to get a set of Maxxis WW's before I die. All my extra money goes to the doctor's & hospital's. If I die in my sleep, oh well but if something happens & I know i'm dying it's really going to piss me off. Here's a few photo's of my daily driver. I painted the trunk hood & left side with rattle cans of Tuxedo black from NAPA. It goes fast enough so nobody gets a good look at it. I ONLY HAVE TO PLEASE MYSELF.

I'm really sorry to hear about that. Hopefully you have a bunch of good years left. I'm fairly young but have a preexisting condition which can cause issues similar to yours, so that just gives me a ton of anxiety. Then again, I contemplate my own mortality way more than I should. It's like a bad song stuck in my head, only it's not a song but a ticking clock to my demise. Crazy, I know. Good luck sir, again I hope you get well.

I just try to think positive, one day I feel fine then I try to do something & wham it's right there again so I sit down & take it easy. Had a stress done Friday & it's been a long weekend waiting for Monday to see what the Dr. has to say. Best of luck with your issues & take things one day at a time.